Deterring accomplices a way to fight telecom fraud

In order to improve the punishment system for telecom fraudsters, the Ministry of Public Security, together with other relevant departments, has drafted the Joint Punishment Measures for Telecom Fraud and Related Crimes. The authorities began to solicit opinions from the public on the measures on Monday.

The Anti-Telecom Fraud Law, which came into effect on Dec 1 last year, standardizes the governance of the telecommunications, financial and internet industries, and establishes an accountability system for relevant parties. Article 31 of the law stipulates that the public security authorities, along with other related departments, shall stipulate specific measures for the punishment of those committing telecom frauds. In other words, in addition to undertaking legal liabilities, telecom fraudsters will also be subject to administrative punishments.

The draft measures target not only the fraudsters but also their accomplices which include those leaking personal information as well as those selling cellphone numbers, bank accounts and internet accounts in different names, which are necessary for telecom fraudsters to sustain their dirty businesses without exposing themselves.

According to the draft regulation, the punitive measures mainly include disciplinary measures in finance, telecommunications and credit. That means those subject to punishment can be fined, their credit records marked, and their internet accounts can be shut down because of the roles they play in telecom frauds.

Such administrative punishments are necessary, as they can be an effective deterrent to those who have been able to hide behind the scenes for so long.

No wonder the draft regulation immediately won people's support the moment it was published. Its overdue targeting of telecom fraud accomplices, who usually have close connections with e-commerce and logistics companies, telecom operators and the banking system, is expected to transform the campaign-style cat-and-mouse game against the perpetrators of telecom fraud into a long-term mechanism that encompasses those directly and indirectly involved in such fraud.